A festive Uber driver in California got his passengers to put on Christmas hats and reindeer antlers, and do a carpool karaoke version of “All I Want for Christmas is You”, by Mariah Carey. You have to admire his creativity and joy of the holidays! I wish we had more people like him in the world.

“I don’t wanna live forever ’cause I know I’ll be living in vain,” Zayn croons in his heaven-sent falsetto atop a finger-snapping beat, supplying The Weeknd-meets-Justin Timberlake vibes across the sexy track. Swift arrives in the second verse to get uncharacteristically sensual.

The former One Direction singer teased the track with an Instagram of the two with the hashtag #idontwannaliveforever earlier in the evening. (Wondering why the musical pairing? Gigi Hadid, Zayn’s girlfriend and Taylor’s loyal #squad member, most likely struck up the partnership.)

Will this track match the massive success of last year’s Fifty Shades anthems Ellie Goulding‘s “Love Me Like You Do” and The Weeknd’s “Earned It”? We’ll find out soon enough.

Listen to “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” up top. In addition to the song, Taylor released a trailer for the movie featuring “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever.” Watch below.

ST. CLOUD — The St. Cloud community huddled together around heat lamps to stay warm during the 4th Annual Weihnachtsmarkt.

Hundreds came out Thursday night to the traditional German Christmas market. St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis says the event is a way to embrace German heritage as well as the winter season.

The event features traditional German food such as brats and sauerkraut, gingerbread, sugar cookies and Gluhwein, a hot spiced wine.

Arts and crafts, music and other holiday treats can also be found at the Weihnachtsmarkt.

Kleis says in years past the event has never been solely outdoors.

“Now that we have this beautiful brand new ramp here, next to the River’s Edge Convention Center, we thought we would do it more of traditional German-Austrian way and that is completely outside.”

As a way to come together and embrace St. Cloud’s sister city, St. Cloud decided to host the first German Christmas market four-years ago.

“So four years ago in honor of our sister city in Spalt, Germany, we thought why not have a winter heritage event. So we tired it and it was a great success that first year and each year it has gotten bigger and better.”

Weihnachtsmarkt was the kick off to many winter festivities this weekend. To see more events click the link below.

I haven’t shared a “Throwback Thursday” in awhile…so here’s a blast from the past. This is a video from my time in London with Jordan Knight in the mid 2000s. We did a TV show popular in the UK called “Hit Me Baby One More Time.” If you watch the beginning of the video, you’ll spot yours truly. I look like I’m fifteen-years-old but I was in my late twenties.

YouTube posted its annual “Rewind” video earlier this week recapping all the stuff that went viral in 2016. I’m sure my 10-year-old daughter will recognize most of these YouTube stars. Even if some of their faces aren’t familiar to you, it makes for a good watch (and laugh).

]]>http://mix949.com/youtubes-2016-rewind-video/feed/0Getty ImagesI Met the Backstreet Boys Last Night!http://mix949.com/i-met-the-backstreet-boys-last-night/
http://mix949.com/i-met-the-backstreet-boys-last-night/#commentsTue, 06 Dec 2016 15:58:37 +0000http://mix949.com/?p=389791I need to start this story with a song.

When I woke up on Monday morning I had no idea how amazing that day would be. Chad Taylor got the hookup for tickets to Jingle Ball that evening but not only that, he managed to set up a meet and greet with the Backstreet Boys.

A little bit of a backstory: When I was 7 years old I won a coloring contest at the Long Prairie Alco Store (RIP). With the $10 prize money I purchased BSB’s album “The Hits – Chapter 1″. I listened to that CD over, and over, and over until I had every word memorized. One time I was listening to it and jumping on my bed so hard that my boombox, yes I got in on the boombox era, fell off my nightstand near by and nearly broke. Luckily it and the CD survived. I am forever a Backstreet Boys fan and this dedication is what made last night so magical.

After I got my picture with the band, we took our seats for the show and I patiently sat through every act until my boys took the stage. When they did, the entire Xcel Energy Center lost it. I have never heard screams so loud. Not only did the guys sound amazing but their dancing hasn’t skipped a beat. They perform like they did when they first started out. My favorite part was when the cameras for the screens scanned over the crowd and all you saw was faces of kids 12 and younger wondering why everyone was freaking out about five guys singing on stage.

Mark your calendars for March, April and June of 2017. BSB got their own Vegas Residency! I have already started to save my pennies for it!

I’m sure we will be seeing more videos like this as winter rears its ugly head. A bunch of people caught caught on an icy hill in Montreal Monday. Once they started driving down it, they couldn’t stop. So it started it a chain reaction, and a terrible mess for the city to clean up. Nobody was hurt thankfully, and it looks like they’ve been able to open the street back up.

SARTELL — A Sartell resident is hoping the city reconsiders their ordinance on short-term rental services in residential neighborhoods.

Julie Meyer has always had a passion for traveling, and loves to stay at an Airbnb when she does.

“I’ve only had good luck with Airbnb’s. Financially they are a more inexpensive option then hotels and they work better for what I want,” says Meyer.

An Airbnb is an online network system where property owners rent out a portion of their home to traveling guests. Something Meyer thought she would try in her home.

“My daughter suggested I list the lower level of my home on the Airbnb website because I just wasn’t utilizing my home,” says Meyer.

Meyer opened the Airbnb earlier this summer and was booked the following day. However in October Meyer was told from the city she was in violation of an ordinance.

“When I applied for my license I told the Fire Marshall my intentions for the space. I don’t see how this is different then the house next to me that is a rental house,” says Meyer.

According to a Sartell ordinance rental property is defined as property leased by one person to another for residential purposes, but does not include short-term guests like you would see in hotels and motels.

“When I got the letter from the city, I pursued this and wrote them back asking the city council to consider changing the ordinance to allow for short-term guests in Sartell,” says Meyer.

Last month the council voted to conduct more research on Airbnb’s and to develop amended language in the ordinance to be brought before a public hearing at a future date.

“I do feel the council is open minded and know that times are changing,” says Meyer.

Meyer says no official date for the hearing has been scheduled but says she is hopeful the council will amend the current ordinance.

(Photo: Alex Svejkovsky, WJON)
]]>http://mix949.com/sartell-resident-hopes-to-continue-airbnb-operations-after-city-ordinance-prohibits-it-video/feed/0(Photo: Alex Svejkovsky, WJON)How Much Would It Cost You to Buy the Stuff From "The Twelve Days of Christmas" in 2016? [VIDEO]http://mix949.com/how-much-would-it-cost-you-to-buy-the-stuff-from-the-twelve-days-of-christmas-in-2016-video/
http://mix949.com/how-much-would-it-cost-you-to-buy-the-stuff-from-the-twelve-days-of-christmas-in-2016-video/#commentsMon, 05 Dec 2016 13:09:52 +0000http://mix949.com/?p=389654Getty Images

The team at PNC Wealth Management have figured out how much it would cost you to buy everything from “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” It would cost you $34,363.49 to buy everything from the song in 2016. Last year it was $34,130.99. Only three things increased in price from 2015: Two turtle doves are up 29.3% . . . 11 pipers piping went up 2.8% . . . and 12 drummers drumming are also up 2.8%. A partridge in a pear tree went down 2.3%.

The most expensive thing on the list is the seven swans-a-swimming. They’ll cost you $13,125. Who would’ve thought swans would cost that much? I’m in the wrong business! See more at PNC.

I was trying to sleep last night, but my dog Sampson was laying on my covers, and I felt like kicking my dog out of my room and back into his kennel. But now, I don’t have to. This Cover Clamp is a great invention for couples who have someone who steals the covers, or for dog owners, whose dog is bigger than they are.

SARTELL — An Angel of Hope statue is being dedicated by the family of a Sartell teen who died unexpectedly.

Randy and Tami Kruzel lost their daughter, 18-year-old BriAnna Kruzel in 2013 to natural causes. BriAnna was highly involved in the community, she volunteered for several organizations, was awarded the St. Cloud Optimist Award in 2013 for her volunteer work as well as being recognized as a High School Big Sister of the Year.

The statue will be in the Lake Francis Town Square Development. The dedication will be held indoors at Chateau Waters in Sartell, Tuesday at 6:30 p.m with a candlelight vigil at 7:00 p.m.

The Angel of Hope sculpture is an angel spreading its wings, with its head and face looking up towards heaven. The memorial will be based on the book, “The Christmas Box” a story of a mother grieving at the base of an angel.

There are seven Angel of Hope statues in Minnesota. The Sartell Angel of Hope will be a place for anyone in the community to go to grieve the loss of their child.

In honor of BriAnna’s volunteerism her family started the non-profitWhat Would Bri Do.Since 2013 the organization has donated more than $26,000 to community education dance, Girl Scouts, Big Brothers Big Sisters, scholarships at Sartell- St. Stephen High School as well as many small donations to other organizations.

I might not be a mom, but I have seen my own mother and grandmother go through this experience. You are just trying to make a return at Kohl’s and the person in front of you is more concerned about losing their Kohl’s Cash than the enormous line that is growing behind them! Check out the video above and start your weekend with a laugh!

I found a video of a baby that can’t decide if she wants to take a nap, or keep eating spaghetti with her hands. This video makes me laugh and cringe at the same time. The clean freak in me wants to stop this disaster from getting out of control, but the parent in me thinks its absolutely adorable.

Following the release of her long, long, long delayed third studio effort Mad Love in October, her first Top 10 record since her last album, 2006’s The High Road (yes, exactly one decade later — that everlasting impact), the beauteous “F–k Apologies” belter is taking her new music out on the road with a massive 2017 global tour, stretching from Europe to the U.S. beginning in January.

Tickets for the U.S. Mad Love shows will go on pre-sale beginning on Monday (Dec. 5) via JoJo’s mailing list, along with a Pandora pre-sale on Dec. 7. The tickets go onsale to the general public on Friday, December 9.

To help ring in the announcement, the “Good Thing” powerhouse vocalist debuted a visual for her Remy Ma collaboration “FAB.” — an early fan favorite from the new record.

Check out the “FAB.” video below, along with the Mad Love tour dates for 2017.

This furry little meatball is looking for a lap to snuggle up in! Honey loves attention, belly rubs and spending time with her people. She could stand to drop a few pounds but that can happen after the holidays! If you are looking to bring some love into your home this holiday season, Honey is the cat for you!

An easy going couple named Jeff and Rebecca Payne got married in Dayton, Ohio this past Saturday. And they got stuck in heavy traffic on the way to the reception because of an accident on the highway. So after sitting in traffic for over an hour, they put on their wedding song “When You Say Nothing At All,” got out of the car, and did their first dance as husband and wife right there in the middle of the road.

On the bright side, they will always have a good story to share about their wedding night.

Update 3:30 p.m. ET: Investigators have identified the suspect: an 18-year-old male of Somali descent. His name, according to sources via the New York Times, is Abdul Artan, though that has not been officially confirmed.

The suspect allegedly rammed his car into a crowd of pedestrians, then exited the vehicle and stabbed multiple people with a butcher knife. He was shot and killed by a campus police officer within a minute of beginning his attack.

Update 12 p.m. ET: Apparently the suspect had a knife. He was shot and killed by police.

Ohio State University was the site of an active-shooter situation Monday morning. Parts of the Columbus campus are currently on lockdown after at least nine people were taken to hospitals. One suspect has been killed, according to local reports, though it is unclear exactly how at this point.

At about 10:30 a.m. local time, the shelter-in-place order was lifted:

UPDATE 1/2 : Shelter in Place lifted. Scene is now secure. ALL classes are canceled on Columbus campus for the remainder of the day.